Honest and Reliable Insurance Agents

Insurance Maze

Unfortunately, there are bad insurance agents, just like bad doctors, bad accountants, bad lawyers, bad husbands, bad wives, bad insurance investigators, etc.

It seems that the only time the general public speaks of insurance agents, it's the time they have dealt with one of those.

Ok, for the good guys. How do you conduct your business on a daily basis and how do you present yourself to the general public?

Maze

beatuplunchbox · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject:

One thing I learned early in my previous career as a retail manager is that it is very expensive to attract a new customer but one you can keep a lifetime is worth 100 times the cost of getting them in the first place.

The easiest way to lose a customer is being a crook.
The easiest way to keep a customer is being friendly, honest, and dependable.

I think that this is how I present myself to potential clients and I also put great effort into living up to their expectations.

This gets me more loyal customers and much more referral business.
I just hate seeing so many people duped by those promising the world and delivering nothing...

mac

sdchargersfan · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 2:33 am Post subject: insurance

I've gone through a few companies (reguarding Life Insurance, Health Insurance, etc.) A few of them sounded great ...UNTIL I signed the policy and THEN they would say ( it seems like, anyway), " oh..by the way,..we CAN'T do THIS and CAN'T do that.." These people couldn't tell me that BEFORE I signed anything? Thank goodness, I had so-many days to look over and cancel my policy. I mean, I REALLY thought I had a 'good' Life Insurance policy about to start, until the comapny seemed to 'change their monds/attitudes on a few things.

sdchargersfan · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 2:37 am Post subject: insurance

However...........I WOULD reccomend a certain insurance company ( that deals with car insurance, mostly) to those who don't have really good driving records. Afriend of mine has a HORRIBLE driving record..lots of accidents ( DUI's on a few) and STILL got a decent rate, with this company.

beatuplunchbox · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 3:35 am Post subject:

I do not like for my customers to be unpleasantly supprised when they have a major health insurance claim. I do my best to describe the limitations along with the benefits of any policy that I sell to them and also stress that they read their policy when it is issued and to call me with questions.

I do stress the benefits of any policy I sell but I do not make it sound like something it is not.

Too often I have come across people who have been sold limited benefit plans or discount plans that were led to beleive that this was major medical coverage by the agents who had sold the policy to them.

They had no clue that these policies would only cover up to a certain amount or just a simple discount and that the rest of their bills would be their responsibility. Most usually the only thing stressed by the agent selling this to them was low or no copays and low monthly premium.

A policy is only as good as its ability to cover someone when they need it the most...

mac

sdchargersfan · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 3:45 am Post subject: policy

Sounds like you're pretty honest, BEATUPLUNCHBOX. That's encouaging. I DO need some good Denatl and Life Insurance coverage. Can you help me out? LOL Recommend anyone?

beatuplunchbox · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 6:28 am Post subject:

hey chargersfan
As far as an individual dental plan I would have to say that for the most part they are a waste of money. All of them I have looked at have low caps on yearly benefits (usually between $1500 to $2500 max they will pay per year). They also have smaller caps on single procedures and wating periods for major procedures, and a lot of time cover only 50/50 for major procedures. When you factor in that premiums range between $60 to $80 a mont it is very unlikely that you will come out ahead. I usually suggest to new customers that ask about dental to ask their dental office which discount plans they accept. These are much cheaper and will save you money.

As far as life insurance just make sure that you deal with an agent who has multiple carriers so that you can get the best price. I have found that companies vary greatly on price on different terms, age, health condition, and so on.

I run quotes on my customers and one company will have the best price for 15 year term and a completely different company will have best price for 20 year...and this is true for about every variable.

As far as companies just make sure their AM Best rating is decent. Past that they are fairly standard, some have more lenient underwriting..

mac

Insurance Maze · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 12:51 pm Post subject:

Fishman · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 1:14 pm Post subject:

beatuplunchbox · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 4:34 pm Post subject:

It seems that the general public is facing a real dilema when it comes to health insurance. It seems to me that many people are geared to the traditional head to toe group coverage that used to be the mainstay of many of the larger companies.

With more people losing this type of coverage they have absolutely no clue when it comes to having to buy and individual policy on their own.

It is so easy for them to fall into the trap of buying policies that are the cheapest or have the lowest initial deductable when a lot of times these turn out to be limited benefit plans or discount plans.

I have found that some agents sell a ton of these by emphasizing the low deductible or premium but often fail to mention that after a certain amount the plan will cover nothing.

It is their responsibility to read their policy but often they blindly trust an agent to tell them right.

mac

sdchargersfan · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 1:22 am Post subject: insurance

INSURANCE MAZE>>>>>> that ALL makes sense!! That friend i was talking about is a bit ticked off at me. Why?..you may ask? Because she drives a car, about the same year as mine ( good, used one) and pays almost DOUBLE rates. She's a few years younger than i am. However, her driving record is horrible. Well.......it DOES make sense when you say the 'driver' makes his 'own rates', not the insurance company. Depends on the DRIVER. Also...what about those people ( I DO know a few) who have had their licenses suspended or revoked? They STILL drive. They get caught and they SCREAM because they are treated 'unfairly." What about our children? Families? God forbid something happens, an accident of some sort, with a DRUNK driver ( with no license)...I think you get the picture.

JS Horne · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 9:50 pm Post subject:

sdchargersfan · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 11:18 pm Post subject: insurance

That same senario happened, at the apt building where I live. About 4 years ago, 'we' had a HUGE fire in the building across from me. The building had 6 apts in it. The ENTIRE building burnt to the ground. Nobody, who lived there, had Renters Insurance. However.....the apt building is owned by the County. SOO...............the County ( and the Red Cross) put these people up at hotels, motels, etc..in the area.

gary · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 12:40 pm Post subject: Agent Conduct

Not to overstate this, but I keep in mind that God sees all. I make mistakes, as a person and insurance agent, but I try to run my business by being up front and honest. You don't have to believe in God to be an upfront or honest person. It's a crucial part of my life though. I've known and met agents who were not very honest on both sides of the fence.

beatuplunchbox · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject:

You are absolutely right about that. Earlier in life I was not living right and the things I did wrong followed me a long way. The good thing is that when you do right by people that also follows you a long way too. I am thankful that god saw fit to straighten my life out and make me a better person. My life has been blessed ever since.

Mac

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